This fall, the leaves will be bright and vibrant, offering a colorful season for all to enjoy, with several picture-perfect views across Lake, Geauga, and Lorain counties.
Andy Avram, naturalist at Lake Metroparks, said the colors usually start to come out in the middle of October, but this year they may be a little later than normal.
“The warm weather may push things back a week or two,” he said.
This year, he said there are several places to enjoy the fall season.
“Chapin Forest Reservation in Kirtland and Indian Point Park in Leroy Township have lot of overlooks for the most scenic views,” Avram, said. “Girdled Road Reservation and the overlook at Big Creek at Liberty Hollow, both in Concord Township, have scenic vistas.”
He also suggests Hogback Ridge Park and Hidden Valley Park in Madison Township, which have places that are great walkthroughs to see the colors.
The Holden Arboretum, located at 9500 Sperry Road in Kirtland, has 3,600 acres of trees and gardens, perfect to view the fall season.
Tere Cole, lead horticulturist at Holden Arboretum, said this year should be a beautiful color year and it’s going to last for a long time.
“It’s mostly dependent on three things,” she said. “A wet but warm spring, a summer that is not too dry or too hot, and a fall with warm days and cool nights.”
The leaves are just beginning to turn, and it is predicted to have a season with many trees having red leaves.
“Last year was hot and dry, so we had very yellow leaves, this year we should see more reds because of the wet season,” she said.
Leaves always have colors inside, but it is covered up by chlorophyll, which is the green color we see in the spring and summer. In fall, the chlorophyll starts to break down because of decreasing sunlight, and the other colors begin to show through. Red colors on some trees is because of the sun hitting old glucose, or sugar, on the leaf that is no longer used for food by the tree, members of the staff at The Holden Arboretum explained.
“Just remember, when you go to look at fall color and you are talking about fall color, nobody goes to Vermont to look at a tree, they go to Vermont to look at the trees,” Cole said. “So when you come to Holden, make sure your experience is at a distance, not right up on top of the tree.”
Visitors to the arboretum can explore on their own, with more than 20 miles of trails, to view the changing leaves, or attend one of the several events held at the arboretum, such as “Fall Colors and a Winery Lunch,” “Fall Through the Lens” and “Fall Woodlands of Carver’s Pond.”
At Geauga Park District, Naturalist Services Director, Diane Valen suggested options for several picturesque views.
“I have photographed fall in most of the Geauga Parks, but (I have four) personal favorite (spots),” she said. “For early color, Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve’s tamaracks, in Burton Township, are ablaze in gold right now and from atop the hill at Orchard Hills Park in Chester and Headwaters Park in Huntsburg along the Buckeye Trail are great for vistas.”
She added, “To capture reflections, I suggest Beartown Lakes Reservation in Chagrin Falls and for colorful fields with tree backdrops, go to Swine Creek Reservation in Middlefield and Frohring Meadows in Chagrin Falls.”
Areas in Lorain County offer other scenic sites for fall color.
Lorain County Metro Parks Chief Naturalist Grant Thompson said the Schoepfle Garden in Birmingham and Vermilion River (Mill Hollow) reservation are two of the best places to view the change in leaves.
“Schoepfle Garden is absolutely beautiful in the fall and nearly everyone who comes to our parks loves the scenery at Mill Hollow,” Thompson said. “Both are great year-round, but are made even better in the fall. It’s my favorite time of the year.”
Apart from the Lorain County Metro Parks, Barb Bickel, executive director of Visit Lorain County, said some of the best locations to view the season’s foliage are along the Back Roads and Beaches bike and multisport route.
“Cascade Park in Elyria and Findley State Park in Wellington are two great spots to view the leaves in the fall, but for those looking to view the foliage while being more active, our Back Roads and Beaches route is the way to go,” Bickel said.
Located 35 miles west of Cleveland, the Back Roads and Beaches bike and multisport route features miles of rolling, rural roads and scenery ranging from farmland to the nautical shores of Lake Erie.
The Lorain Port Authority is also putting on a Fall Foliage Cruise this month at Black River Landing, allowing residents to view the leaves from the waters of Lake Erie.
“We’ve done this specific cruise for three years now and it’s always been a well-received fall activity with residents,” said Ralph Bruening, Lorain Port Authority facilities manager. “It’s a completely different experience cruising the river in the fall than in the summer or spring. The scenery is just amazing and people really seem to enjoy it.”
Cruises launch from Black River Landing Oct. 12 and 19 at 2:30 p.m. and Oct. 16 and 23 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 11 and under.
For more information about Lake Metroparks, The Holden Arboretum or The Geauga Park District, visit lakemetroparks.com, holdenarb.org and geaugaparkdistrict.org.
For more information about Lorain County Metro Parks, Visit Lorain County or Lorain Port Authority, visit metroparks.cc, visitloraincounty.com and lorainportauthority.com.